Wear Ear Pro, Folks: Hearing Loss at 23

[Jaden Bales]

Just got my hearing checked and sure enough, I have hearing loss in my left ear confirmed 10 days before my 24th birthday.

I figured running power tools and machinery growing up on the farm would be the culprit of some hearing loss, but since it's on the left side almost exclusively (right-handed) the hearing specialist figured it would be highly related to shooting shotguns and rifles, too.

I'm not a big range guy, like I've only shot a box a year or so through my rifle up until this point, so I figure it's bird hunting after school and on many weekends from the time I was 10 'til I was 15 or so when girls and sports started taking over my extracurriculars.

Now here's the real question... any of you guys lost an opportunity at a critter because you had to put in your ear protection? I just want to be prepared for future frustration if it's even a thing. Lol.

 

[DangerRanger]

I haven't lost an animal from putting in ear pro, but I have a bad habit of forgetting/not caring enough in the heat of the moment. The last time I did this was my PB whitetail and unfortunately his rutted self took more than one convincing. After two days of feeling nauseous and ears ringing I don't hunt without a suppressor anymore and the difference is tremendous.

Sorry to hear about your hearing loss, shotguns are extremely loud and it seems hunters use ear pro for them even less than rifles, especially considering how abrupt shotgun game often appears.

Personally, while it appears I can hear relatively well as as a whole, I cant pick out sounds in high sound traffic environments anymore. If multiple people are talking I have to rely on lip reading to hold a conversation. I also have to listen to audiobooks, or a tv show turned on very low to sleep from tinnitus. Luckily while tinnitus doesnt go away, my brain has improved in not noticing it much of the time.

 

[sram9102]

I'm in your boat. I did more than my fair share of shooting as a kid. Also spent a ton of time with my grandpa beating on different farm implements with a hammer. I'm 28 and have constant tinnitus. Its not terrible and I can still hear everything so far. My buddies sure do laugh at my mad rush to put ear pro on/in when ducks are coming into the spread though. I have cans on most of the rifles that I shoot much nowadays. Not a foolproof option but it helps. I still wear ear pro when target shooting and try to in hunting situations but the time isn't always available.

 

[Jaden Bales]

I haven't lost an animal from putting in ear pro, but I have a bad habit of forgetting/not caring enough in the heat of the moment. The last time I did this was my PB whitetail and unfortunately his rutted self took more than one convincing. After two days of feeling nauseous and ears ringing I dont hunt without a suppressor anymore and the difference is tremendous.

Sorry to hear about your hearing loss, shotguns are extremely loud and it seems hunters use ear pro for them even less than rifles, especially considering how abrupt shotgun game often appears.

Man, I was afraid I'd hear that. Haha. That doesn't sound like a lot of fun for those two days, but glad you got the buck!

I've got a braked 300 WSM coming in soon, so I think I'm just going to have to make it a mandatory deal for myself... hopefully I can win that mental battle. Haha.

Thanks man! All good, just gonna have to lean in with my right ear at the bar, turn off ambient noise if I want a conversation with the missus between rooms at home, and protect what I've got left for hearing for now. I am testing out some hearing aids to see if I will wear them but we'll see.

 

[Jaden Bales]

I'm in your boat. I did more than my fair share of shooting as a kid. Also spent a ton of time with my grandpa beating on different farm implements with a hammer. I'm 28 and have constant tinnitus. Its not terrible and I can still hear everything so far. My buddies sure do laugh at my mad rush to put ear pro on/in when ducks are coming into the spread though. I have cans on most of the rifles that I shoot much nowadays. Not a foolproof option but it helps. I still wear ear pro when target shooting and try to in hunting situations but the time isn't always available.

Yeah man! I know it always seemed like a higher priority for the rifle than shotguns, but when you're kicking out 3 rounds plus being in a blind with a couple other dudes doing the same thing, it can't be good on the ears.

Hope that tinnitus goes away for ya! My stepdad had it real bad and I think he did some therapy of some kind that got rid of it...before getting hearing aids this year. Lol.

 

[DangerRanger]

Man, I was afraid I'd hear that. Haha. That doesn't sound like a lot of fun for those two days, but glad you got the buck!

I've got a braked 300 WSM coming in soon, so I think I'm just going to have to make it a mandatory deal for myself... hopefully I can win that mental battle. Haha.

Thanks man! All good, just gonna have to lean in with my right ear at the bar, turn off ambient noise if I want a conversation with the missus between rooms at home, and protect what I've got left for hearing for now. I am testing out some hearing aids to see if I will wear them but we'll see.

One thing ive found that helps is to always have a pair of the corded plastic buds around my neck while hunting. Even if I don't use them as primaries, if ive got my good buds in a pocket or something stupid the corded buds are always within 6 inches of my ears. They are also like 2 bucks so no worries if you lose them.

They also just push in not some stupid rolly Polly maybe they’ll expand maybe they wont nonsense

 

[Jaden Bales]

One thing ive found that helps is to always have a pair of the corded plastic buds around my neck while hunting. Even if I don't use them as primaries, if ive got my good buds in a pocket or something stupid the corded buds are always within 6 inches of my ears. They are also like 2 bucks so no worries if you lose them.

Man, glad I went with that kind then!

I just had my ears molded for customs with the cord. I am worried about losing them a little (got em in bright orange) but between a little cauliflower ear and abnormally small ears, I've always hated wearing the cheapos.

 

[hflier]

Protect your hearing, you could end up with Meniere's disease like me and its a freaking nightmare.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I wear Otto electronic ear plugs, or I have canal caps around my neck and I plop them in before I shoot. No animal is worth losing your hearing.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I'm in your boat. I did more than my fair share of shooting as a kid. Also spent a ton of time with my grandpa beating on different farm implements with a hammer. I'm 28 and have constant tinnitus. Its not terrible and I can still hear everything so far. My buddies sure do laugh at my mad rush to put ear pro on/in when ducks are coming into the spread though. I have cans on most of the rifles that I shoot much nowadays. Not a foolproof option but it helps. I still wear ear pro when target shooting and try to in hunting situations but the time isn't always available.

Electronic hearing protection is great for bird hunting.

 

[sram9102]

Electronic hearing protection is great for bird hunting.

I've got weird cheek bones apparently. Getting a good cheek weld on a shotgun or rifle pushes the muff slightly away from my face. No Bueno.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I've got weird cheek bones apparently. Getting a good cheek weld on a shotgun or rifle pushes the muff slightly away from my face. No Bueno.

I use the ear plugs style. Muffs don't work for me either.

 

[OXN939]

Just got my hearing checked and sure enough, I have hearing loss in my left ear confirmed 10 days before my 24th birthday.

I figured running power tools and machinery growing up on the farm would be the culprit of some hearing loss, but since it's on the left side almost exclusively (right-handed) the hearing specialist figured it would be highly related to shooting shotguns and rifles, too.

I'm not a big range guy, like I've only shot a box a year or so through my rifle up until this point, so I figure it's bird hunting after school and on many weekends from the time I was 10 'til I was 15 or so when girls and sports started taking over my extracurriculars.

Now here's the real question... any of you guys lost an opportunity at a critter because you had to put in your ear protection? I just want to be prepared for future frustration if it's even a thing. Lol.

Correct about rifles generally causing more severe hearing loss than shotguns, although the damage is done to different frequency ranges of your hearing. Hearing loss is, in many ways, like TBIs (traumatic Brain Injuries)- once the damage is done, it can't be undone, and there is a large degree of individual variation in terms of how severely people are affected. Definitely second the idea of wearing a cheap plastic necklace of ear plugs when you're stalking, and putting them in before you take your safety off.

 

[JeffRaines]

I, too, have hearing loss at a young-ish age(32 but had it for years now). Mine came from playing in bands when I was younger.

I think it’s funny when the brake threads come up, someone inevitably mentions how brakes kill your hearing so they don’t recommend them so you don’t have to worry about hearing protection.

What’s even more surprising is how many people are against hearing protection at all in a sport where having your hearing kinda helps a lot. They’re worried about missing animals due to putting in hearing protection, but what about that animal slipping out the back that you can’t hear?

 

[Jaden Bales]

I, too, have hearing loss at a young-ish age(32 but had it for years now). Mine came from playing in bands when I was younger.

I think it’s funny when the brake threads come up, someone inevitably mentions how brakes kill your hearing so they don’t recommend them so you don’t have to worry about hearing protection.

What’s even more surprising is how many people are against hearing protection at all in a sport where having your hearing kinda helps a lot. They’re worried about missing animals due to putting in hearing protection, but what about that animal slipping out the back that you can’t hear?

I'd say 32 (or younger) is definitely pretty early. That's a bummer!

Man, that's a funny dichotomy I hadn't thought about yet. Seems like we all ought to do a little better at protecting what we got for hearing no matter if we're rocking braked guns or not. I was thinking about wearing hearing aids just for elk season for that reason.

Yeah it's a weird deal how much we were ingrained to despise hearing protection, though now I'm wishing I hadn't turned my nose up at it so much. Haha.

 

[gdog]

Man...I wish I could have a do-over. I just turned 50 and ended up with a set of hearing aids last week to the tune of $6k. Lots of years shooting and upland hunting has put me at 40% loss in the left and 30% loss in my right with higher frequencies along with tinnitus. I'd happily give up a bunch of opportunities at big critters, if I could get my hearing back.

....and if you have hearing issues, don't blow it off. Go get checked. Read up on what happens to those who have hearing loss and don't take step to offset it. Not good.

 

[Tuscaoka]

Huh

 

[BRTreedogs]

I can't hardly hear bugles.
Makes me tear up thinking about it.
Im 38 about 30% loss and the constant ringing makes me wanna end it some days.
No more quite time for me.
Lots blown archery opportunities.

 

[Newtosavage]

I had my first hearing test at 21. By then, I had been shooting rifles and running chainsaws for years without protection. When I came out of the booth, the tech asked me "do you shoot guns?" - I said yes. Then she asked me "Are you right handed?" and again I said yes. Then she showed me the Audiogram and said that was the classic signature for a right-hander who shoots guns without hearing protection.

I've had tinnitus since my 20's. Most days it doesn't bother me that much but I would love to know what life would be like without it.

So yea, put your ears on (or in).

 

[Bisley45]

I always were earpro at the range and dove hunting. This year I've decided I will wear it hunting. Slight hearing loss in my right ear with some tinnitus. I find it a little difficult having conversations in crowded areas like bars and restaurants. I'm 35.